Improvement



N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

NITED STATES APATENT FFICE.

JACOB PARKR, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT lN TRUNKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 25,347, dated September6, 1859.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JACOB PARKER, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,have invented certain Improvements in TravelingTrunksg and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in theconstruction of traveling trunks, by which they are rendered much morecomplete and durable, as will be hereinafter explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe it as I have practiced it, referring by letters tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one of my improvedtrunks. Fig. 2 represents a top view of the same with the lid raised.Fig.

3 represents a vertical cross-section at the line mfc, Fig. l, and Fig.4 represents a vertical longitudinal section at the line y, Fig. 3.

Similar letters denote the same parts in the different views.

A represents the body portion of the trunk, which is formed about asusual.

a ct are its handles.

Bis the lid on top of the trunk. This I make semicylindrical, as seen inperspective at Fig. l and cross-section at Fig. 3. I form the lid B oftwo semicircular heads b, connected by suitable braces c, and coveredwith thick tarpaper,lined and skinned, or with thick leather, or othersuitable tough material, and hinged to the rear top edge of the lowerportion a in the usual manner. The lock and strap attachments areapplied in the ordinary manner. By forming the lid B, as shown,semicylindrically, I am enabled not only to render the cover moredurable and capable of sustaining more weight, (which is a greatdesideratum in a traveling trunk now,) but also to include that spacewhich is cut out by the attened top, (by taking in which the trunk isrendered no more cumbersome,) and thereby enabling me to introduce atray, which shall be capable of having one or more hatboxes formed init, which have now/ to be formed in the lower portion, whereby that partis so out up that there remains not asuitable space for packing inladies dresses or other clothing which should not be folded small.

C is the tray, which at its base is equal in area to the interior of thebody A, within which it rests on supporting-strips d, arranged justbelow the upper edge of the body A. This tray O, I propose to divideinto three parts from front to back, which may be subdivided, each orany. The middle portion I have divided by removable and adjustabledivision-boards into three hat-boxes. The back portion is leftundividedto contain ladies parasols, or such other things as re` quirethe whole length of the trunk and little room laterally. The frontportion I have subdivided into three compartments f fg. The rearcompartment I is furnished with a lid t', hinged at rear-and securedalong its front edge by little hooks or clasps fm fm. The middle portionor hat-boxes 7c 7c 7c. are covered by a curved lid K, concentric withthe lid of the trunk, hinged and fastened in same manner as lid/ Thefront compartments or cabinets ff g are formed with their` covers orlids after the fashion of a portfolio and on a flare. The object of theared lid. is to allow the swing of the main lid B, as seen in red linesin Fig. 5, and at the same time to occupy all the space possible. Themiddle box g, Iline thoroughly with oiled silk or other imperviousmaterial for the purpose of containing wet Sponges, vials,cologne-bottles, or other articles the breaking of which would damagethe clothes or the like, which have frequently to be carried, and whichotherwise would be extremely awkward. compartments ff g is furnishedwith a small portfolio-lock, and may be arranged to serve asjewelry-boxes, &c. The boards n n, dividing the middle portion, are madeto be readily removed, or to slide up and down, and in such manner thatthe central portions of theirlower edges do not come in contact with thebottom of the tray. The object ot' this peculiar construction is thatthey may be lifted and a gentlemans hat placed with the crown runningunder, as seen in red, Fig. 4.

It will be seen that with the construction of lid described and shown Iam enabled to form the trunk more lastingly, so that it will sustainmore weight, and so that I can render available sufficient room in a toptray to constitute therein hat-boxes, and leave the body Each of thev cfthe trunk intact for packing large clothing. It will also be seen thatby the arrangement ot` the tray substantially as described I form one ormore hat-boxes at pleasure, which can readily retain gentlemens hats,provide 'for such articles as parasols, &c., and furnish small ladiestrinket-boxes, and an impervious box for Wet materials.

0 o are straps arranged in various parts of the trunk, which buckletogether and are eX- ceedingly useful for holding down clothes in unlledportions, pinning ladies7 laces to, 85e.

I-Iavn g described my improved trunk, What I claim therein as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Forming the lid of the trunk in the shape JACOB PARKER.

Witnesses:

W. P. MENAs, L. E.DNEWT0N.

